Apparatus for stacking panels or the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically stacking metal siding panels for packaging, with successive panels in the stack inverted and/or laterally offset relative to each other so that their formed longitudinal edges are interfitted, and with protective sheets of paper interleaved between successive panels. The apparatus includes a conveyor for advancing the panels laterally, a plurality of heads with rotary arms movable into and out of a position for engaging and inverting panels advancing along the conveyor;, rotatable stop members at the end of the conveyor for arresting an advancing panel in any selected one of a plurality of positions spaced slightly apart from each other, and a plurality of indexing arms for successively gripping each arrested panel by suction and advancing it a fixed distance to a stacking locality where the indexing arms deposit the panels in parallel superposed relation, so that successive panels in the stack are laterally offset in correspondence with the spacing between the positions in which they are respectively arrested by the stop members. Sheets of paper to be interleaved with the panels are successively supplied to, and held on, a vacuum table adjacent the stacking locality; a movable wand operating in synchronism with the indexing arms picks up a sheet from the vacuum table, conveys it to the stacking locality, and deposits it on the uppermost panel at that locality, i.e. between deposit of successive panels on the stack. Successive adherence of the paper to the vacuum table and the wand, and release of the paper from the table and the wand, are effected by the reversible application of suction and air blasts to the paper through the table and the wand. Means are also provided for depositing a completed stack of panels on a carton blank and folding the blank around the panels.

United States Patent [151 Boltz et al.

[ Sept. 17, 1974 APPARATUS FOR STACKING PANELS OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Duane A. Boltz, East Brunswick,

N.J.; James J. Gardner, Hamilton; Charles F. Hautau, Oxford, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Alcan Aluminum Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 320,662

Primary ExaminerRobert L. Spruill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran [5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for automatically stacking metal siding panels for packaging, with successive panels in the stack inverted and/or laterally offset relative to each other so that their formed longitudinal edges are interfitted,

and with protective sheets of paper interleaved between successive panels. The apparatus includes a conveyor for advancing the panels laterally, a plurality of heads with rotary arms movable into and out of a position for engaging and inverting panels advancing along the conveyor;, rotatable stop members at the end of the conveyor for arresting an advancing panel in any selected one of a plurality of positions spaced slightly apart from each other, and a plurality of indexing arms for successively gripping each arrested panel by suction and advancing it a fixed distance to a stacking locality where the indexing arms deposit the panels in parallel superposed relation, so that successive panels in the stack are laterally offset in correspondence with the spacing between the positions in which they are respectively arrested by the stop members. Sheets of paper to be interleaved with the panels are successively supplied to, and held on, a vacuum table adjacent the stacking locality; a movable wand operating in synchronism with the indexing arms picks up a sheet from the vacuum table, conveys it to they 10 Claims, 43 Drawing Figures PAIENI'EW 3,835,620

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1. In apparatus for stacking and packaging elongated panels, in combination, a. means for successively advancing a plurality of the panels transversely of their length along a defined path to a first locality; b. means for inverting a panel advancing along said path ahead of said first locality by turning the panel about an axis parallel to its length, said inverting means being selectively operable to invert only certain ones of successively advancing panels in accordance with a predetermined sequence; c. means for arresting panels at said first locality at any one of a plurality of positions at which the panels are disposed at respectively different distances from a fixed line parallel to their length, the difference between any two of the aforesaid distances being less than the width of a panel, and said arresting means being operable to arrest successively advancing panels at respectively different ones of said positions in accordance with a predetermined sequence; d. means for successively transferring arrested panels from said first locality to a second locality and depositing said panels in superposed parallel relation to each other at said second locality to build up a stack of the panels while maintaining each said panel in its orientation as arrested at said first locality, said panel-transferring means removing each successive panel from said first locality after arrest thereof by said arresting means and prior to advance of the next successive panel to said first locality, and advancing each panel the same predetermined fixed distance in a direction transverse to its length in transferring the panel from said first locality to said second locality such that the relative positions of successive panels on the stack are determined by the respective positions at which they are arrested at said first locality; e. means for depositing an elongated sheet of flexible material on, and in substantial alignment with, a panel deposited at said second locality prior to delivery of the next successive panel to said second locality; f. means for depositing, at a third locality, a carton blank shaped and dimensioned to be folded around a stack of the panels to laterally enclose the stack; g. means for transferring a stack of panels from said second locality to said third locality and depositing the stack on a carton blank at said third locality in position to be laterally enclosed thereby as aforesaid; and h. means for folding a carton blank laterally around a stack of panels at said third locality.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inverting means comprises i. means for engaging and turning a panel advancing in said path, and ii. means for actuating said engaging means to engage and turn a panel in response to the sensed passage of a predetermined number of panels along said path.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said arresting means includes means for aligning the ends of successive panels along a common line at said first locality, said aligning means including means for engaging an end of a panel at said first locality and means for actuating said end-engaging means to engage and align a panel in response to the sensed presence of the panel at said first locality.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said panel-transferring means comprises i. means for engaging and moving a panel from said first locality, and ii. means for actuating said last-mentioned means to engage and move a panel as aforesaid in response to the sensed presence of a panel in an arrested position at said first locality.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said arresting means comprises i. stop means for engaging a panel to arrest the same at said first locality, said stop means being movable to engage and arrest a panel at each of said plural positions, and ii. means for moving said stop means from one to another of said positions in response to panel-moving operation of said panel-transferring means.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said sheet-depositing means comprises i. means For holding a sheet of said flexible material in position for transfer to said second locality, ii. means for lifting a sheet from said holding means and delivering it to said second locality, iii. means for actuating said lifting means to lift and deliver a sheet as aforesaid in response to and in synchronism with panel-moving operation of said panel-transferring means such that the sheet is delivered to said second locality prior to deposit of a panel at said second locality, and iv. means for delivering a sheet of said flexible material to said holding means in response to removal of a previous sheet from said holding means by said lifting means.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said last-mentioned actuating means actuates said lifting means in response to sensed performance of a predetermined number of panel-moving operations of said panel-transferring means.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said stack-transferring means includes i. means providing a movable platform positionable to support a stack of panels at said second locality and displaceable for transfer of the stack therefrom; ii. means for displacing said platform from said second locality in response to deposit of a predetermined number of panels at said second locality; iii. means for lifting a stack of panels from said platform, upon displacement thereof as aforesaid, and delivering the stack to a carton blank at said third locality, and iv. means for supporting a stack of panels at said second locality, during displacement of said platform therefrom, in position for transfer to said platform upon return of said platform to said second locality.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said carton-blank-folding means comprises a conveyor on which a carton blank is deposited as aforesaid at said third locality, arm means disposed adjacent said conveyor for engaging and folding side portions of said carton blank laterally around a stack of panels in response to completion of the stack-depositing operation of said stack-transferring means, and means for driving said conveyor to discharge a stack of panels enclosed in a carton blank from said third locality in response to completion of the blank-folding operation of said arm means; said wherein said carton-blank-depositing means comprises means for advancing a carton blank to and depositing the blank on said conveyor in response to completion of the discharging operation of said conveyor-driving means.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stack-transferring means comprises i. A row of spaced-apart platens cooperatively providing a horizontal platform for supporting a stack of panels at a first level at said second locality; ii. means supporting said platens for simultaneous vertical movement between said first level and a second, substantially lower level, for lowering a completed stack of panels toward said second level; iii. means including a horizontal member and a plurality of rigid fingers extending therefrom transversely of said row of platens and in register with spaces between adjacent platens of said row at a level intermediate said first and second levels, said bar and fingers being horizontally translatable between a first position, vertically beneath said first level at said second locality, at which said fingers are disposed to receive a stack of panels from said platens during descent of said platens to said second level, and a second position at said third locality; iv. means for moving said bar and fingers to said second position in response to descent of said platens to said second level, for delivering to said third locality a stack of panels carried on said fingers, and for thereafter returning said bar and fingers to said first position; v. discharge means carried by said bar, and movable relative thereto, for pushing a stack of panels laterally off said fingers in synchronism with return of said bar from said second position, therebY to deposit the stack at said third locality; vi. means for actuating said platen-supporting means to lower said platens to said second level in response to deposit of a predetermined number of panels at said second locality, and to raise said platens to said first level in response to return of said bar and discharge means to said first position; vii. a plurality of arms movable into and out of a position for supporting a stack of panels at a level slightly below said first level at said second locality, said arms being in register with spaces between said platens, said arms providing a substitute platform for support of a stack of panels at said second locality when said platens are at said second level, said platens lifting the stack from the arms upon return of the platens to the first level; and viii. means for moving said arms into and out of panel-supporting position in response to descent of said platens to said second level and elevation of said platens to said first level, respectively. 